One year after the city announced that <a href="http://inhabitat.com/cornell-soothes-stressed-out-students-by-installing-grassy-lawn-in-the-olin-library/" target="_blank">Cornell University</a> would be getting a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/cornell-tech-releases-new-renderings-of-net-zero-campus-on-roosevelt-island/" target="_blank">science and engineering outpost</a>, Manhattan’s Community Board 8 has approved the plans. With designs by <a href="http://som.com/" target="_blank">Skidmore, Owings and Merrill</a> and Thom Mayne of <a href="http://www.morphosis.com/" target="_blank">Morphosis</a>, the exciting campus will inhabit Roosevelt Island, giving future students inspiring views of the Manhattan skyline. The 12.5 acre complex will also be the home of one of the largest <a href="http://inhabitat.com/ikea-announces-plans-to-become-100-energy-neutral-by-2020/" target="_blank">energy-neutral buildings</a> in the United States.

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Morphosis Cornell Roosevelt Island

With the Community Board 8’s approval, the <a href="http://tech.cornell.edu/" target="_blank">Cornell Tech Campus</a> took a giant leap forward, and can finally start making plans to break ground.

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Morphosis Cornell Roosevelt Island

The undeveloped part of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/four-freedoms-park-designed-by-louis-i-kahn-to-open-this-fall-on-roosevelt-island/" target="_blank">Roosevelt Island</a> will get a face lift by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, who are in charge of the campus’ masterplan.

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Morphosis Cornell Roosevelt Island

A new pedestrian walk connecting the campus with the city, large public green, academic building, residence hall, hotel facilities and office suites will sprout up on the island.

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Morphosis Cornell Roosevelt Island

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/morphosis-to-design-first-cornellnyc-tech-building-on-roosevelt-island/" target="_blank">energy-neutral academic building</a> has been designed by architecture firm Morphosis.

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Morphosis Cornell Roosevelt Island

Spanning the entire rooftop of the building, Morphosis will install a photovoltaic canopy, which will produce enough energy to make the building independent of the grid.

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Morphosis Cornell Roosevelt Island

Class will begin in January of 2013 in temporary Chelsea facilities, but with the Community Board’s green light, construction on Roosevelt Island can begin in 2014. The sprawling campus will be open for classes in 2017, and will be fully completed in 2037.